Overshoe



6, V E. MCCAN-DLISH 2,309,520

OVERSHOE F'i'led Jan. 24, 1941 2 Sheets-Shegat l Patented Jan. 26, 1943 more S'E'TS E A ENT Ft 7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in overshoes of those types generally known as gaiters, galoshes and similar footwear calculated to exclude water, snow, ice and chill when worn during inclement weather.

With ordinary overshoe structures of these types more or less physical force is required to properly enter a shoe-clad foot into place within the overshoe because of the necessity of first shoving the forward tip of the shoe into the covered front end of the overshoe and subsequently forcing the heel down into place. Furthermore, many structures of those types have overlapping flaps that are bound arotuid the ankle to close their tops that permit seepage of water and drift of snow and wind into the overshoe, thus defeating the full purpose of the overshoe.

An object of the instant invention is to provide an overshoe structure such as permits full opening of its top thus to facilitate placing as well as removing a shoe-clad foot into and from the overshoe.

Another object of the invention is to afford an overshoe structure without any opening therein below its top wherefore to circumvent entrance of water while the top is secured around the ankle.

And further objects and advantages the,

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the overshoe as I it appears when completely closed;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the overshoe;

Fig. i is a side elevational view of the overshoe as it appears when fully opened;

Fig. 5 is a front elevational view of the overshoe as it appears when open; and

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the overshoe as it appears when partially open.

The illustrative embodiment of the invention consists of an overshoe formed of waterproof material of any suitable character and shaped to have a foot fitting bottom or sole 5, an upper portion 2 contiguous with the sole, extending upwardly therefrom, and open at its top. The wall of the upper portion, when the overshoe is fully open, extends substantially in a vertical plane that conforms in cross-section with the general outline of the sole I, thus to permit free and unobstructed insertion or removal of the wearers foot into or rom the overshoe.

The upper portion 2 has formed extericriy on its wall a reinforcement i the base of which is contiguous with the sole and completely encompasses the bottom part of the upper portion 2 and strengthens that region of the overshoe. The reinforcement has vertical front, side and rear extensions 6 and l, respectively, that terminate at the top of the wall and strengthen said upper portion 2. The rear and. side extensions 7 and G are joined by cross branches 8, and at the junctures of said branches and side extensions 6 there preferably are formed corresponding enlargements ii wherefore to strengthen said junctures. For the sake of ornamentation there may be suitably formed on the enlargements any desired characterization it! of a living or other fanciful subject. The bottom of the sole i may be molded or otherwise treated so as to present similar characterizations H.

The upper portion 2, in the areas adjacent each side of the front extension 5, are suitably made folds :2 that extend divergently upward from the toe tip it entirely to the top of the upper portion 2, the folds being such as readily become nested back of the front extension upon constriction of the upper portion about the ankle of the wearer.

A securing means is provided for closing and holding the upper portion in closed position, which preferably consists of a pair of straps is and 55 the inner ends of which are suitably secured to the corresponding enlargements G, with their outer ends extending free, and one strap it is provided with a fastener 18 of any suitable type wherefore to connect the straps together around the front extension and fol'dable part of the upper portion.

In use, the straps are first loosened sufiiciently to allow the upper portion 2 to be opened completely to the fullest extent, thus permitting the wearer to insert his foot into place in the overshoe readily without obstruction and with negligible effort. The open top is then constricted about the ankle and thus held upon tightening the straps. Removal of the overshoe is likewise readily accomplished without hindrance from friction or obstruction upon loosening the straps This feature of the present invention is of great value to parents and teachers of young children as the children are enabled to personally discard and don their overshoes easily without aid from the parents or teachers which ordinarily is required, and relief from which duty is manifestly appreciable.

Variations from the precise construction herein disclosed may readily be made by exercise of engineering skill without departure from the spirit or scope of the invention, and the following claims are intended to be inclusive of such variations.

What I claim is:

1. An overshoe structure having a sole, an upper portion contiguous with the sole extending upwardly therefrom and open at its top, the wall thereof, when the overshoe is fully open, extending substantially in a vertical plane conforming in cross-section with the general outline of the sole thus to permit free and unobstructed insertion or removal of the wearers foot into or from said overshoe, a reinforcement, the base of which is contiguous with the sole completely encompassing the bottom part of the upper portion, said reinforcement having vertical front, side and rear extensions, that terminate at the top of said wall, and cross branches connecting said side and rear extensions, there being provided corresponding enlargements at the junctures of said side and rear extensions, areas adjacent each side of said front extension having formed therein divergently disposed folds that are nested back of said front extension when said upper portion is constricted, and securing means for closing and holding said upper portion in closed position.

2. An overshoe structure constituted of a sole, an upper portion contiguous with the sole having an open top and. foldable areas wherefore to permit constriction thereof around the ankle, the wall thereof, when the overshoe is fully open, extending substantially in a vertical plane conforming in cross-section with the general outline of the sole thus to permit free and unobstructed insertion or removal of the wearers foot into or from said overshoe, a reinforcement exteriorly disposed on the upper portion, the base of which encompasses the bottom part of the upper portion adjacent said sole, said reinforcement having vertical extensions at the front, rear and sides of said upper portion and forwardly extending branches connecting the rear and side extensions, enlargements at the junctures of said branches and side extensions, and fastening straps connected at their inner ends with the corresponding enlargements and provided with fastening means for their free ends.

3. An overshoe structure constituted of a sole, an upper portion contiguous with the sole having an open top and foldable areas wherefore to permit constriction thereof around the ankle, the wall thereof, When the overshoe is fully open, extending substantially in a vertical plane conforming in cross-section with the general outline of the sole thus to permit free and unobstructed insertion or removal of the wearer's foot into or from said overshoe, a reinforcement exteriorly disposed on the upper portion the base of which encompasses the bottom part of the upper portion adjacent said sole, said reinforcement having vertical extensions at the front, rear and sides of said upper portion, and fastening means in connection with said reinforcement for closing and holding said upper portion constrictedly around the ankle.

4. An overshoe constituted of a sole, an upper portion contiguous with said sole and open at its top, an exterior reinforcement the base of which encompasses the bottom part of said upper portion adjacent said sole and which has vertical extensions at the front, rear and sides thereof, certain areas of said upper portion immediately adjacent each side of the front extension having divergent folds made therein extending continuously from the toe of the overshoe entirely to the top of said upper portion .iat are adapted to be nested back of the front extension upon constriction of said upper portion, and means for closing and holding said upper portion constrictedly around the ankle.

5. A waterproof overshoe having a sole and an upper foldable portion, an external reinforcement encompassing the sole and adjacent lower part of said upper portion having a front and rear extension thereof overlying said upper portion, certain areas of said upper portion adjacent each side of the front extension having divergent folds made therein extending continuously from the toe of the overshoe entirely to the top thereof adapted to be nested back of said front extension upon constriction of said top portion about the ankle, said upper portion being so proportioned that when fully extended the opening thereof is substantially equal to the area of the sole, and means for closing and holding said ,pper portion constrictedly around the ankle.

6. An overshoe formed to have a sole, an upper portion contiguous with the sole, an exterior reinforcement overlying said upper portion, united with said sole and provided with vertical extensions spaced apart from each other, there being folds in said upper portion between certain correspondingly opposite extensions, and means for constricting and holding said upper portion around the ankle.

7. An overshoe formed to have a sole, an upper portion contiguous with the sole initially of substantially uniform diameter, having vertical reinforcements spaced apart from each other and folds in the upper portion located between certain of the oppositely disposed reinforcements, and means for constricting and holding the upper portion about the ankle.

EDWARD McCANDLISH. 

